A splash of colour and the sound of song marked the start of the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign, launched today (April 23) by the Chief Secretary for Administration (CS), Mrs Carrie Lam.

More than 250 people attended the launch ceremony at the Hong Kong Museum of History, including about 180 who took part in an 'art jam' that helped paint the backdrop of the main stage in the hour before the launch ceremony.

Among those joining the CS for the launch were eight Principal Officials and 51 students from the award-winning Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School choir.

The ceremony also included a special message from two of Hong Kong's most popular singers - Jacky Cheung and Eason Chan - who took time out of their busy schedules this week to record the Campaign theme song to be released soon.

Among guests were representatives of 170 Partner Organisations that include leading businesses, commercial and industrial organisations, NGOs and volunteer agencies, cultural and sporting associations, uniformed groups, professional institutes, the tourism sector and quasi-government bodies.

District Council chairmen and government officials were also present to show their support.

"Hong Kong: Our Home" is a city-wide public participation campaign that aims to inject positive energy into society, foster social cohesion and promote care, mutual help and solidarity in the community.

The Campaign also encourages residents to re-focus on the strengths of Hong Kong as a liveable and enjoyable city, so that they will have a sense of pride about our home and a stronger sense of belonging.

The Campaign will run until the end of the year and has the enthusiastic backing of the Chief Executive (CE), Mr C Y Leung, and his team.

The Campaign is anchored in the CE's Policy Address initiatives in relation to "A Caring Society and a Home for the People", "Environmental Protection and Conservation" as well as "Arts and Culture and Sports Development".

The over-arching theme of "Hong Kong: Our Home" echoes the CE's oft-repeated statement that the "seven million people (here) belong to one family". There are four supporting themes: Vibrant Hong Kong, Hip Hong Kong, Caring Hong Kong and Fresh Hong Kong.

A Task Force chaired by the CS and backed up by four Working Groups has been set up to oversee the Campaign.

The Campaign emphasises "public participation", and all people who call Hong Kong their home are welcome to join by way of either organising or simply joining the activities.

The Administration's role is merely to provide a common platform that allows activities and events that align with the Campaign's goals to be pooled under an umbrella theme to create greater synergy and public awareness.

So far, more than 480 events and activities have been included in the Campaign Calendar of Events.

A special website - www.hkourhome.gov.hk - was also launched today, as well as a YouTube channel www.youtube.com/hkourhome.¡@

The website includes background on the Campaign, Campaign Structure (see Annex I), list of Partner Organisations (see Annex II), introduction of the logo (see Annex III), the e-Calendar of Events, news updates, photos, a video gallery and guidelines on the use of the Campaign logo.

More information about the groups which participated in the launch ceremony today is at Annex IV.